Dear Editor,

I would like to add my voice to the proposed Holnicote Estate Grey squirrel cull.

We have known about the squirrel pox virus for a number of years, and that greys can kill their red cousins, just by sharing the same habitat.

However, I have some ambivalence to this practice. The elimination of the grey population will leave the red squirrel as the main prey species for the pine marten reintroduction, which is planned for Exmoor.

As many readers will be aware, pine martens are mustelids - and phenomenal hunters.

Furthermore, whilst I accept these creatures are prevalent in Scottish and northern forests, are we just planning a unique food source for them?

Regards,

Jim Sokol

Minehead

Dear Editor,

Mark Dyer (Postbag, October 10) accuses me of “hyperbolic outrage”. May I again quote his call “to compel our globalist King to have to summon Mr Nigel Farage to form a government in his name”? No reference made to an election...and an implied insult from a man who claims to be a patriot. If he wasn’t calling for an insurrection he should choose his words more carefully. I’m still laughing at his idea that I’m “Far Left”!

Local democracy will be in play at the October 23 Dunster Division County Council by election.

I wonder how many voters are aware that all Somerset county councillors are paid a basic allowance of £16,135 per annum plus expenses and thousands of pounds more for chairing/vice chairing a committee? The Labour government is now seeking to restore their right to join the Local Government Pension Scheme…a practice banned by the Tories. Parish councillors, who are currently shouldering increased responsibilities from the county, are unpaid volunteers.

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Jones

Old Cleeve

Dear Editor,

For the last three years I have been a host to Ukrainian Refugees. Despite the Russian attacks on Ukraine having got more intense putting more Ukrainian lives in constant danger, unfortunately there are fewer host for Ukrainian Refugees today, compared to the beginning of the war three years ago.

Please I appeal to the kind hearted people who has a spare bedroom to offer a Ukrainian Refugee for six months. You are not required to feed or buy food for your Ukrainian guest only let them use your kitchen to cook their own food.

Within the six months your Ukrainian guest will be given help to find work, and after six months your council will help your Ukrainian guest to rent their own private rented flat.

The rewards of helping these desperate Ukrainian people find peace is a outstanding feeling of achievement and pride.

For your kindness your council will pay you £350 per month to host one Ukrainian refugee.

Over the last three years experience, I have found the Ukrainian people to be polite, considerate, and without asking my guest they have always help me with household cleaning chores.

So please if you might be interested in becoming a Host to Ukrainian Refugees or would like more information, contact me on 01884 841354 or 07707 235407 email; [email protected]

Thank you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

George Simon Budge

via email

Dear Editor,

Over the past few weeks, we have heard a number of politicians stating that the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights or ECHR. I find these statements alarming and thought that I might show why this retrograde step would not be desirable.

To put things in the correct historical context: at the end of WWII, the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany became all too horrifically apparent; and the British Government led by Winston Churchill decided that there should never, ever be a repeat.

Senior legal experts - many of them British - and top constitutional lawyers helped create a new Europe-wide charter to protect basic human freedoms, and provide a mechanism for individuals to obtain redress when the state fails them. This became the European Convention on Human Rights.

The legislation protects freedom of the press, and the right for people to speak out. Here in the UK, it has helped groups such as the Hillsborough families seek truth and accountability.

Occasionally, there will be issues arising from ECHR cases that seem wrong to the layman; but in reality they seldom happen.

Quite simply, I would not trust anyone who argued for the UK to no longer be a signatory to the ECHR. There can be only one real ulterior motive for anyone to do so; it’s so that they can do the things that the convention so importantly protects us all against.

Regards,

Tony Sutcliffe

via email

Dear Editor,

Calling all Somerset schools: Somerset Council needs your help in naming two gritting vehicles – new to the fleet – this year.

Winter is only round the corner and Somerset Council and its highways contractor Kier are gearing up for the season, making sure the gritters are ready for whatever weather comes our way.

The closing date for this year’s competition is November 7 and then all entries will be shortlisted by Somerset Council and Kier, which will be followed by the public voting for the winners.

Last year’s entries were brilliant with some inventive pun-tastic ideas.

It’s a great way for local children to get involved in naming the road gritters and learn more about road safety in the winter. I can’t wait to see the creative names the children come up with and see some new gritters on the road this winter.

Councillor Richard Wilkins

Somerset Council’s lead member for transport and digital